waking up with my coffee I often scan the news and travel the webGOOGLE ALERTS give me a list of cycling related articlesthis is my morning routine while the kids get dressed and while I wake upscan the web and wake up with some SCRABBLE on FACEBOOKa press release on the topic of transportation had me ranting in the comment sectionI wonder what I said?at TRANSPORTATION FOR AMERICAhttp://t4america.org

it is clear that the BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN issue is not as far up on the list as it should bebutit is good to see this issue climbing up the ladderit is good to see that there are those stopping others from pushing these issues off the ladder entirely

government needs to lead by exampleour government needs to embrace alternative forms of transportationour government needs to be forward thinking and proactive

safer streets!more bike paths!

the government work places should enable the efforts of those who walk-run-or bike to work

it is more than just transportationit is about people co-existing in a healthy-civil sort of way

then on the side of energy consumptionenergy can be saved through shorter work daysflex daysand of course working from home/tele-commuting

in Washington DC when Congress takes its month long vacation in Augustall the government agencies whose work drops to a trickle because their work is with Congresswell... what about these workers moving to a 3 day weekthe energy saved by not having these people drive to work in addition to the lights off and less computer/printer/etc. activitywell... it would have a cumulative significant energy savingsas well as maybe a mental health bonus for the workers!

Klingle Valley Trail Meeting October 7th

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), are preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the potential impacts of constructing a multi-use trail within the DDOT right-of-way in Klingle Valley. The multi-use trail will be constructed on the currently closed segment of Klingle Road between Porter Street, NW and Cortland Place, NW. The EA will analyze a range of alternatives for the multi-use trail. The alternatives will also include environmental and drainage system improvements of Klingle Valley.

You may recall that thanks to the efforts of WABA members and local advocates, the DC Council's Public Works and Environment Committee voted 3-2 to remove funding that would have jump-started the reconstruction of Klingle Road in Rock Creek Park. Instead, the $2 million that had been budgeted for the roadway has now been reprogrammed to pay for the remediation of storm water issues in Klingle Valley and the construction of a multi-use path. The path will be constructed with environmentally-sensitive materials.

9.29.2009

on the first lap Terri was hammering pretty hard it looks like she was trying to make a pass on the outside lineher choice of what path was met with what must have been a divot or a sink hole

she went over the handlebars and straight for the water

in an "I wish I had my camera set to video and pointed in that direction" sort of way I watchedI watched rather than record something worth of an intro from Bob Saggett

Terry went over the bars and landed in a rollher body moved in what looked like a yoga head standshe rolled forward and raised her feet to the sky with her legs bentwhen she got vertical her head went into the pond as if she were bobbing for apples

and well... she pulled her head out of the watergather her wits and her bike and got back into the race

wanted to glance at thisa week has passed and I see it never made the pageguess I will PUBLISH AND POST and leave it there

the seasons are definitely changing

the commute is starting will start to get more mental attention and actual preparationI have already been caught with nothing more than a blinking lightperhaps it is time to start packing a a charged light in the morning

tonight I got out early enough that it was still light for a few hoursso I was able to get an hour fifteen on the bike before walking the dog for a short loop in the woods when I got homeall without the assistance of any lightI had a wind up flashlight in my back pocket but did not need itand the ride did not call for a single flashing light

got out of work pretty much right on timedid not stall getting out of the stalljumped out of my business casual and into my old black and red DCMTB kitalready hydrated and a tad caffeinated I was ready to ride

out into traffic and then right onto the sidewalk that is the path crossing Key Bridge into Rosslynthreading traffic all the while trying to be fast smooth and unoffensive I play the bicycle version of frogger all the way until I get across to the Virginia sideof course there is a car in the crosswalk on the merging rampthere is always a car in the crosswalk at that merging ramp

onto the Mount Vernon trail for a quick out and backjust past what I still call National Airport and across the first marsh boardwalk that feeds into the split just before Old Town Alexandriausually I turn on the grass just shortly past the marina parking lotbut on this day I went onto the wooden board walk before making my turn around

it was all very uneventfulthe bike and body were feeling okaythere was some drag in my rear hub which covered up for the drag that existed in my legsstill a little tired from Sundaystill a little tired from life

yet I managed to move at a good clip out and backjust early enough that I did not get caught up in too much of the race that is for the top dog on the bike pathon the back I rolled head on... almost literally a few people racing like fools on the multi use trail

it is cool to go for itbut chill lax a pedal when zipping around grandma or that pregnant jogger

I know... my behavior on the bike can be a tad too fast and a tad too close for some of the people that I passI try to pass safely...when I am making a pass that looks like I am coming head onI let it be known with eye contact and often a wave of the hand that I know I am coming at you and I got it all coveredof course while giving a gentle on your leftthat utterance is at a conversational tone right to the right side of the shoulder as I am making a pass

for the most part with my creaky bike, my jiggling keys, and my heavy breathing... if a person is paying half attention to the world around them they should hear/feel me coming

out and back never really wishing that the camera was around my neck instead of in my bagthis was a ride of moderate intensity

on this ride out and back I tried to take advantage of the occassional cyclocross like optionsthe beaten dirt path or even the packed grassthis caused a leap in intensity to maintain the same speed with greater resitenceand of course... some of these paths had me passing people on the path while I am on the rightit can spook people... I get it... it may spook me...I try to be respectful... even if I am doing what may appear to be illogicalat times it is logical and often it is the most fun

we are all out there trying to get oursI try to get mine... but not at the expense of othersthere are logical rules... pretty much the same rules that would be logical in a carthoughts of safe passes with safe sight linesbrakeing distances and quick thinking alternate exits

some people are just pedaling along as blindly as so many people are driving around

what was I saying?I can not play SCRABBLE and BLOG at the same timeespecially when I need to put my feet up and finish this glass of red wine

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